Gorkha, May 28

A senior leader of the CPN (Maoist), Dr Baburam Bhattarai, said today that the unity of eight parties is necessary.

Bhattarai said that constituent assembly elections should be held after declaring the country a republic. “We want a republic,” Bhattarai said, stressing the need to establish a republic that upholds nationalism. Bhattarai was speaking at a mass meet organised here by the Gorkha chapter of the Revolutionary People’s Council.

“The Maoists are ready to do a rethink on their proposal concerning the proclamation of a republic if there is a guarantee that the CA polls will be held by November,” Bhattarai said. He said that the eight-party meeting has been delayed due to ‘activities of the palace and foreign forces.’ Terming the activities of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala mysterious, Bhattarai said: “The PM falls ill whenever meetings of the eight parties are about to begin. But he can meet foreigners, including the US envoy, for hours.”

Claiming that the seven parties and the king reached a secret agreement on April 24, 2006, Bhattarai said: “The leaders of the seven parties have not informed people about the agreement.”

Minister for Physical Planning and Works, Hisila Yami, said the Maoists have the plan of making their revolt successful through peoples’ war, diplomacy, talks and participation in the government.